Management
The Staff
Henderson Mullin – Chief Executive
Henderson worked in business publishing for several years before joining Index on Censorship in 1998, an NGO which publishes books and magazines in support of freedom of expression. As its publisher, and then Chief Executive, Henderson worked to introduce new writers and voices to cultural and political issues alongside established writers such as Margaret Atwood, Christopher Hitchens, Noam Chomsky, Philip Pullman, John Le Carré, Günter Grass, Umberto Eco and others. He has worked in local, national and international partnerships finding new audiences for writers and artists using digital and physical forms of expression and in projects giving voice to marginalised groups. He was a member of The Rhythm Writers, a performance writer’s collective, based in London. Henderson has contributed to various advisory boards including Writers and Scholars Educational Trust, Open Air FM, Human Rights House Network, and the Free Word Centre for Literature, Literacy and Freedom of Expression. He is currently a Regional Artist Advisor for Artists taking the lead – Arts Council England’s flagship project for the Cultural Olympiad.
Catherine Rogers – Education and Programme Manager
Before joining Writing East Midlands Catherine Rogers was the Literature Development Officer for Derby where she co-ordinated and programmed many literature events and projects. She is responsible for bringing together Hello Hubmarine, a new writing and spoken word collective including the Time Travel Opportunists, who publish and run live literature nights. She has worked in different community arts settings both as an artist and arts worker including, co-ordinating a reminiscence project for Charnwood Arts, working as Youth Arts Officer for Amber Valley Borough Council and running participatory arts workshops at community events and festivals. She currently sits on the regional board for the English National Youth Arts Network. After graduating from the University of Bristol with a degree in Classical Studies, Catherine gained valuable experience in the publishing industry with I.B.Tauris and then with Daunt Books.
Antonia Bell – Marketing & Operations Manager
Antonia moved to Nottingham from Brighton in 2008. Her previous role as Office Manager for a digital marketing agency encompassed HR, Finance and Senior Management support. She has worked for Amnesty International, where she organised numerous events; for the BBC as a reporter, reviewer, and assistant producer and for Disney Interactive in the HR department. Antonia has a diploma in Print and Radio Journalism and a degree in Economics and History from Exeter University.
Aimee Wilkinson – Project Administrator
Aimee is a writer and an experienced performer and workshop leader. In the past she has worked as a youth and care worker and has been active in involving the arts and community theatre with such groups. She is on the steering group of the new writing and spoken word collective, Hello Hubmarine, and has performed her work throughout the region and helped organise various literature events. Since being awarded a First Class Honors degree in Creative Writing at Derby University in 2008 Aimee has worked as a PA/copywriter at the graphic design and marketing studio Parkhouse Evans where she organised and managed complicated projects and wrote copy for brochures, web, articles and press releases for clients.
Board
Christopher Walker
Acting Chair of the Writing East Midlands Board
Christopher is the course leader for De Montfort University’s MA in Television Scriptwriting. He was Head of Central Television’s Script Unit and Creative Executive of CTCP (Columbia TriStar Central Productions). He produced the ITV sitcoms The Upper Hand and Sob Sisters and has developed projects for Carlton and the BBC. Christopher has contributed to screenwriting courses at the Phoenix, Broadway and Metro and has given lectures in the United States and Germany. He has been an adviser to East Midlands Arts and was on the board of trustees at Nottingham Playhouse. He is currently the Vice Chair of Dance 4.
Rakesh Parmar
Rakesh joined the Writing East Midlands board in March 2008. He has marketed events for a long list of writers and artists including Ben Okri, Sue Townsend, Ken Loach, Will Self, Andrew Motion, Linton Kwesi Johnson and Shamshad Khan. As a creative producer he was commissioned by the Bass Festival to produce a unique East Midlands event, he created the region’s first URBAN POETRY SLAM. For four years now Rakesh has staged BEATROOT – The poetry hour for Big Session Folk Festival at Leicester’s De Montfort Hall. Rakesh is treasurer and promoter of Leicester’s longest running open mic evening WORD!
Stephen Lowe
Stephen has written and staged many plays as well as writing regularly for TV and film. He has been resident playwright at the Royal Court, Riverside Studios, and Dartington College of Arts. He established the practical programme of work on the MA playwrighting course at Birmingham University, and has conducted TV and theatre writing courses for, amongst others, the Arvon Foundation, National Theatre, RSC, South West Arts, Granada TV, the BBC, as well as abroad. Stephen has served on various advisory boards, including South West Arts, the board of Great Eastern Stage Company, and the advisory panel to Nottingham Trent University Theatre Design department. He was formerly chair of East Midlands Arts.
Malcolm Burgess
Malcolm is a publisher, freelance literature project manager, consultant and writer. Until 2007 he was Literature Manager for Essex, responsible for developing the county’s literature strategy and infrastructure, promoting new and existing writers, creating new audiences and partnerships and helping to brand Essex as a dynamic player in the UK and internationally. Has previously worked as a marketing manager for a major UK publisher, plus as feature writer, scriptwriter and author. Malcolm has extensive literature project management experience, as well as extensive press and radio media experience.
Paul Denney
Paul has 10 years of successful business experience in the East Midlands having worked as Head of Corporate Development for Experian, one of the region’s largest public companies. In this role he oversaw a significant expansion in international markets across Europe and Asia. Paul has also worked in Corporate Finance across the East Midlands and he now works as an independent consultant, advising businesses and not-for-profit organisations on strategy and financial planning. Paul has an MBA from London Business School and lives in Nottingham.
Emma Crook
Emma works within the Arts Team at Derby City Council as the Arts Commissioning Officer. This is her first post after returning to England from living in sunny Spain. Before upping sticks and moving to Granada, Emma worked as an Arts Development Manager for darts (Doncaster Community Arts). In her previous life, which is going back some years, Emma was a secondary school Drama teacher. Throughout her working life she has advocated for the arts and its ability to change the lives of those that come into contact with it. She is excited about being on the board of WEM and hopes that her passion, experience and drive will make a positive contribution to the WEM story.
